An intriguing power play threatening the fragile peace within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is steadily unfolding. Behind a façade of democratic nuances, aggrieved contractors are fuelling the brewing crisis. Beyond its recent demonstration over perceived delays in payment of outstanding debts, the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) has effectively formed a tag-team with the APC League of Democrats escalating the agitation to a call for’the removal of certain ministers.

What began as a series of demonstrations over a massive ₦4 trillion debt has evolved into a targeted political movement against the leadership of the Ministry of Finance with warnings that this crisis could hurt the ruling party’s chances in 2027.

In their sustained agitation, these contractors and their allied groups, including the Concerned Lawyers for Probity and Justice, specifically accused the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, of being responsible for the perceived failure to implement presidential directives to clear the 2024–2025 backlogs. They openly accused the minister of sabotaging President Tinubu’s agenda by refusing to release funds even after warrants had been sighted.

While the ministry has defended the delays as part of a necessary surgical transition to a more transparent payment framework, the contractors view this as a bureaucratic smokescreen to delay payments into the 2026 fiscal year.

The Involvement of the aggrieved contractors in this sabotage narrative is more than just a fiscal complaint; it is a calculated political manoeuvre. In Nigerian politics, contractors are often significant party financiers and grassroots mobilisers. When their payments are stalled, it doesn’t just hurt their businesses—it dries up the political oxygen that fuels the party’s machinery. Accordingly, this alliance group frames the ₦4 trillion debt not as a lack of funds, but as a political hit job by certain ministers. They argue that by withholding payments, the Ministry of Finance Is intentionally bankrupting pro-APC businessmen, thereby weakening the President’s financial support base ahead of 2027.

Sunday Sun reliably gathered that the concerned contractors are influential APC stakeholders, who are poised to use their aggrieved status to lobby for the removal of specific ministers they view as roadblocks. This strategy is specifically designed to push out technocrats in favour of politicians. By doing this, they are signalling that they want ministers who understand political patronage and the necessity of cash flow for party survival. The aggrieved contractors believe the money is there, but that ministers are sitting on the warrants or making preferential payments to their own associates.

Despite the inclusion of ₦1.7 trillion in the 2026 Budget for 2024 Outstanding Contractor Liabilities, Sunday Sun findings show that there has been an increased tension within the APC rather than calming it. Contractors are using the 2026 budget cycle to demand that the President clean the house so that the new ₦1.7 trillion isn’t managed by the same people they accuse of sabotage. The APC League of Democrats, led by Hon. Babajide Oyewole, in a statement on February 4, 2026, warned that the party would face the same internal sabotage that cost the PDP the 2015 election if the cabinet isn’t purged of unproductive elements.

A reliable source, who spoke with Sunday Sun on condition of anonymity, confirmed the pressure on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to change the obstinate ones among his cabinet members. “In the run-up to an election year, contractors are also a critical part of the winning strategy. The people we are talking about here are major financiers; they usually have significant leverage.

“While it may not be feasible for the President to do another cabinet reshuffle in less than one year after the last change, I believe there must be a way of meeting at a middle ground. These are not labourers, they are influential members of our party. So, their concerns have to be looked into for peace to reign,” he said.

While the Presidency maintains an official silence, the corridors of power in Abuja are buzzing with names being pushed by the APC League of Democrats and various aggrieved contractor blocs. They are scheming to replace the rigid economic managers with individuals who have grassroots skin in the game.

Following the recent defection of 22 lawmakers from Kano to APC, rumours are swirling that the President might consider a minor cabinet reshuffle to consolidate the Northern vote. According to the source within, this would be a move to neutralise the sabotage narrative by bringing in a Northern heavyweight. As the March 31 deadline to clear the ₦1.7 trillion provision approaches, the pressure groups are said to be positioning their candidates as replacement for the current underperformers.

Expectedly, the controversy has divided stakeholders into pro and anti-League of Democrats groups, each questioning the desirability or otherwise of the renewed call for a cabinet reshuffle less than one year of the last change of ministers.

A close associate of the President and former Chairman of the Lagos chapter of the APC, Chief Henry Ajomale, while discussing with Sunday Sun in a telephone interview, dismissed the call as misplaced and unnecessary. He said: “There must be a reason for the President retaining them. If he doesn’t need them, he’ll let them go. He just did a cabinet reshuffle; they’re saying the same thing again. They haven’t even spent a year before agitating for another change. Do they know the President’s mind better than him? It should be left to his judgment to decide who’s working and who’s not. You know, I worked with him for eight years – he doesn’t need to be told to show someone the way out if they’re underperforming. You can’t be outside and know what’s going on inside,” he stated.

APC spokesperson in Lagos State, Seye Oladejo, also speaking in the same vein, maintained that the president should be left alone to decide on the best option for the country.

Expressing concern over the perceived distraction in a telephone chat, he argued: “The President can make decisions that benefit Nigeria across sectors. He’s shown the will to make changes when needed, like the recent Service Chiefs shuffle. Let’s trust his judgment. He’s a listening leader, aware of ministerial performance. If changes are needed, he’ll act – we’ll hear about it soon. Let’s leave it to him.”

However, a prominent member of APC in Ekiti State and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Senator Anthony Adeniyi, in his own perspective, emphasised the need for a clean up to weed out underperforming ministers. His words: “I agree with people urging the President to drop those perceived as non-performing ministers. Some aren’t doing enough; he should change them. I won’t name specific individuals. The performing ones are covering for the non-performing ones. The President should assess them individually. I’m sure the committee set up to assess ministry performance has urged him to change the underperforming ones, but he’s hesitant for certain reasons.”

Abdulkareem Daiyabu, a former President of the Kano State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and agriculture, lamented many woes the country has had to grapple with, blaming the President for the poor performance of some of his ministers.

“The President is responsible for holding ministers accountable for their ministries’ performance. I shouldn’t need to tell him who’s doing well or not. Yet, we have insecurity, poor healthcare, and unstable electricity supply. Who’s responsible? Doesn’t the President know? He should know what’s happening isn’t desirable,” he declared.

Currently, the Renewed Hope cabinet is split between those who want to save the naira and those who want to save the party. The contractors and party loyalists are betting that, with 2027 approaching, the President will choose the latter. (The Sun)